Out and About

Michele Roberts
For The Lancaster News
May is National Pet Month, a time to celebrate the furry, four-legged companions that can be more like family members than just mere pets. For most pet owners, the worst possible scenario would to be to lose that valued member of the family. But there are several resources that can increase the chances of reuniting with a lost dog or cat.

Driving through the South Carolina countryside, you will occasionally see a green and white diamond-shaped sign declaring a property to be part of the American Tree Farm System. What does that mean?
The American Tree Farm System (ATFS) is the country’s largest and oldest network of family-owned forests. More than 83,000 members are managing 26 million acres of America’s forests.

From release
Fran Gardner, a professor of art and art history at the University of South Carolina Lancaster, will spend three weeks in July as the artist-in-residence at Chaco Culture National Historical Park in Chaco Canyon, Nageezi, N.M.

Carolinas Literacy Network
The third annual race for the 5K Race for Literacy is at 8 a.m. May 5 at the University of South Carolina Lancaster.
The Literacy 5K race is a charity event created to raise awareness of literacy programs supported by Carolinas Literacy Network. Money raised by the Race for Literacy are used by Carolinas Literacy Network to guide collaboration of learners, literacy providers and supporters toward improving regional literacy levels.

Katawba Valley Land Trust
The Katawba Valley Land Trust received two conservation easements that protect an additional 380 acres.
A 187-acre conservation easement was donated by the Stoneboro Plantation LLC in the Stoneboro area of southern Lancaster and northern Kershaw counties.
The donation is the second easement donated to KVLT by the Stoneboro Plantation LLC.
The total protected acreage is 751 acres on the heavily wooded property, which protects the headwaters of Little Beaver Creek.

Lancaster Soil and Water Conservation District
The Lancaster Soil and Water Conservation District board of commissioners presented the Rev. R. A. Morrison with an exceptional service award on Feb. 6.
The award was in recognition for his 16 years of service as a chaplain for the district.
Morrison a pastor, farmer and family man at one time headed a sweet potato farming cooperative, and continues to farm with family members on his farm near Steele Hill AME Zion Church.

Scotts Miracle-Gro
When spring fever hits, it’s easy to feel a little overwhelmed with all the things you want to do in the yard. Here’s a simple list that will help you get your garden ready for good weather.
You can start with this checklist as soon as weather permits.
If you can get these things done in the coming weeks, you’ll be well on your way to enjoying spring when it gets into full swing.

U.S. Department of Agriculture
April 6 is the deadline to apply for the Conservation Reserve Program from the U.S. Department of Agriculture Farm Service Agency (FSA) and the USDA-Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS). Late applications will not be accepted.
The Conservation Reserve Program retires erodible row crop land by planting trees, grass or wildlife foods and the program also benefits pastureland in streamside areas.

University of South Carolina Lancaster
The public is invited to the official opening of the nature trail at the University of South Carolina Lancaster at 3:30 p.m. Thursday, March 22. The trail is the result of the combined work of USCL, the Catawba Master Naturalist Association and Boy Scout Troop 71. The half-mile of gently sloping trail meanders through pine forests, bottom-land hardwoods, stream-side habitats and upland hardwoods with various plant and animal life.

Staff Reports
The Martin Luther King Jr. Social Action Committee Inc. (MLK-SAC), Food Lion LLC and Citadel of Hope Christian Fellowship will present the ninth annual MLK Memorial Peace Conference at 2 p.m. April 4 at the Fairway Room at the Springs Golf Course, 1821 Springs Club Road.
The celebration will mark the 44th anniversary of the assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. This year’s theme is “Remaining Hopeful through the Storm.”